02/13/2015 at 10:30 am

For the week of February 16th to 22nd, check out off-limits architecture tours, interactive exhibitions and an Art Deco Mardi Gras party.

Monday, February 16th

Join the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation in a book reading where murder meets history at “Shadows on Bleeker Street.” In the novel, after a rare book signed by legendary abolitionist Frederick Douglass is stolen, Professor Jeff Gardner joins a Bleecker Street literary walking tour, which he feels will enable him to recover the book—and trap the killer of Jeff’s colleague, who had discovered the Douglass book. The event is taking place at HB Playwrights Theatre from 6-8 pm. Although the event is free you must RSVP.

02/06/2015 at 9:30 am

If you’re like us, the standard Valentine’s Day dinner and flowers doesn’t really cut it, and most years you probably want to just bypass the holiday all together. But this is New York City after all, and what other city might have such a range of alternative Valentine’s Day activities that hit the heart of the urban explorer? Here are 10 worth checking out:

Free Cooper Union class on “How Shakespeare Works,” part of a 9-course series where you can mix and match classes. This class on the 9th will look at the plays as performance, and how the works were performed in Shakespeare’s time. Classes taught by William Germano, Ph.D., Dean of Cooper Union’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

02/05/2015 at 10:30 am

Join photographer/urban explorer Will Ellis, author of Abandoned NYCand Untapped Cities columnist, on a walk through the weird side of New York history at Brooklyn’s Dead Horse Bay. Tales of buried pirate treasure, putrefied animal carcasses, and environmental devastation abound on this desolate shoreline, which once served as the final destination for the city’s carriage horses. Today this beach-comber’s paradise is covered with garbage dating back to a 1920s landfill deposit, offering a fascinating look at what New Yorkers were throwing away a century ago. Bring a bag for take home a few of the incredible artifacts you’re sure to stumble upon—there’s plenty of trash to go around.

Join us on March 21st as we escape into New York’s past, revisiting history with Abandoned NYC’s Will Ellis. He’ll be giving a historical introduction to the site, weaving in tales from his experience photographing for his book Abandoned NYC, and showing the best places to look for artifacts.

The tour will meet at Flatbush Av – Brooklyn College subway stop (exact location to be announced) at 1:45 pm to take the Q35 Bus together. See below for a video showing what you might see on our tour of Dead Horse Bay.

Check out more upcoming Untapped Cities tours and events here, including a book talk with Will Ellis on 2/25 at WeWork West Broadway.

02/03/2015 at 9:30 am

Book talk with Abandoned NYC’s Will Ellis on February 4th and February 25th

Our picks for events in NYC this week include talks about the High Line, South Street Seaport, and cider at the Morris-Jumel Mansion.

Tuesday February 3rd

The 1928 Loew’s Kings Theatre in Flatbush, Brooklyn is finally restored to its former glory and is making its debut tonight with: “An evening with Diana Ross: Grand Opening Concert.” Doors will open at 8 pm for the first chance to see the concert hall gleaming with gold ornate ceilings and opulent chandeliers. Tickets are available for purchase online.

01/26/2015 at 12:00 pm

In partnership with The Eternal Space, a play about an untold story of the destruction of Penn Station, we are hosting a special tour of the remnants of Penn Station with Tamara Agins, tour guide, project manager at NYC Department of City Planning, and author of our popular article on the Secrets of Grand Central. Update: We’ll be hosting the tour again on April 11th at 2pm. Get tickets here: